Download Handout/Worksheet MADANIA (High School) Grade 10 Worksheet 5

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MADANIA (High School)
Grade 10 Worksheet 5 Session 5
Unit 1: The Sociological Perspective
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Sociology and Social Policy
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Essential Questions:
Historical development of relation
between sociology and social policy
Roles of sociology in social research
The parties who get benefit from social
policy research
Results of policy research
Relation between social policy and
power
30-3/8/2010, 1-3/9/2010
1. Explain
the three (3) periods of historical development between
sociology and social policy.
2. What do you know about value-free sociology?
3. Explain the disctinction between sociology and social policy based on the analogy
of James Coleman.
4. Why should sociologists tread wary line between sociology and social policy?
5. Mention some parties who get benefit from social policy research?
6. Why does social policy research does not necessarily reduce conflict
between interest parties?
7. Mention two contradictive results may be happen from social policy research.
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Handout/Worksheet
Historical Development of Relation between Sociology and Social Policy
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The relation between sociology and social policy is not particularly clear.
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But for Auguste Comte, sociology was the new religion, the scientific
humanism that would unravel the laws of human society and lead to rational
social planning.
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The late nineteenth century and early twentieth century adopted much more
empirical approach in their sociological investigation of a particular social
problem. Even though the relationship between sociology and social policy is
quite crude.
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The period 1930-1960 is marked by the increasing attempt by sociology to be
accepted as a discipline into academic world. There is a need to link sociology
with the identification of social problems and consequent social reform.
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There is a great deal of controversy within sociology as to whether sociologists
should have direct input into the study of particular social problems or should
be involved in espousing particular social policies.
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This is due to the desire on the part of some sociologists to produce
free sociology and to make themselves remain neutral.
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value-
Handout/Worksheet
Roles of Sociology in Social Research
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Max Weber was at pains to clarify the role of sociology in social research.
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He makes a clear disctinction between research and researcher when he
states that ‘To apply the results of [sociological] analysis in the making
decisions…is not a task which science can undertake; it is rather the task of
the acting, willing person: he weighs and chooses from among the values
involved according to his own conscience and his personal view of the world.
Science can make him realise that all action and naturally, according to the
circumstances, inaction imply in their consequences the espousal of certain
values and…. the rejection of certain others.’
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Weber accepted that it is within the role of a sociologist to choose the social
problems they wish to consider but emphasised that the actual research
must be strictly objective.
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To find distinction between sociology and social policy, James Coleman
(1979) draws an analogy of the two worlds of discipline (academic study)
and action.
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The world of discipline is pure and value free; the world of action is impure,
laden with conflicting of interest groups, may be secretive and is not value
free.
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The sociologist treads a wary line between the two worlds.
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Weber’s conception of the relationship between sociology and social policy
provides technical information from which policy makers decide social
policy. In this respect is Weber is a technician.
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Handout/Worksheet
The Parties Who Get Benefit from Social Policy Research
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Most of social policy research is carried out for various interested parties.
These includes:
 Government –both national and local, who may want to try out ideas on
a small scale before applying social policies.
 Government –both national and local, who wish to asses the impact of
existing social policies;
 Business interests-wishing to develop market research into present and
future lifestyle.
 Business interests-wishing to develop raw data which support a
particular lobbying position that promotes their interests.
 Promotional interest groups-wishing to influence government, public
opinion, or gain media time.
 Sectional interest group-establishing the effects of current or future
social policy on a particular social group.
Results of Policy Research
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Social policy research does not necessarily reduce conflict between interest
parties and produce social laws as Comte might have hoped.
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But such research may make the conflicting interest groups better
informed-if the information is freely available.
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Handout/Worksheet
Relation between Social Policy and Power
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Some sociologists have argued that the increased knowledge gained will
enable those with power to strengthen their hold by manipulating their
subjects.
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Policy research may undermine those in authority by revealing the gap
between their claims and the actual outcome of their policies.
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There are also different means of achieving the same policy goal.
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The effects of research on those in authorithy are uncertain, as are the
uses to which research is put.
Resources:
1.
AS Level and A Level Sociology, Andy Barnard, Terry Burgess and Mike
Kirby, Cambridge University Press, 2004, page 5-7.
Questions for Critical Thinking.
1. Explain the three (3) periods of historical development between sociology and
social policy.
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Handout/Worksheet
2.What do you know about value-free sociology?
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__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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3. Explain the disctinction between sociology and social policy based on the analogy of James
Coleman.
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__________________________________________________________________________
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4. Why should sociologists tread wary line between sociology and social policy?
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Handout/Worksheet
5. Mention some parties who get benefit from social policy research?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
6. Why does social policy research does not necessarily reduce conflict between
interest parties?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
7. Mention two contradictive results may be happen from social policy research.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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